DNF: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Published September 18th, 2012

Scholastic

416 pages (Paperback)

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“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore. (From Goodreads)

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Stopped reading at page 290 of 408.

I tried really hard with this one, but just couldn't get into the story.  I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters.  It's not that there was anything wrong with them, but rather that they just didn't fit my tastes.  I felt confused, and not in the good, can't-set-it-down way.  I had no clue what was happening, and, again, felt no connection to the story.  

That being said, I do understand why so many people love this book.  The writing is solid and I can see where the story would appeal to many people.  There is a maturity to the book that stands out.  There is also that complexity that I talked about above.  There was a brief period about midway through the book that I really enjoyed, and a plot twist that I thought was awesome.  Ultimately though, it just wasn't for me.